‘I had to get a brain scan’ Manly legend Graham Eadie reveals his health battles as he reserves high praise for Tom Trbojevic

When the dizzy spells kept reoccurring, deep down Manly legend Graham ‘Wombat’ Eadie knew something was wrong.

Eadie had been feeling uneasy on his feet for roughly six months, but he kept putting it on the backburner hoping it was nothing to worry about.

Then his good mate – ex-Kangaroos teammate Tommy Raudonikis – passed away recently following a long battle with cancer – and former Sea Eagles No.1 realised he couldn’t procrastinate any longer.

“I haven’t been that well, so I went for brain scans,” Eadie said as he waited in the line at the doctor’s surgery in Kingscliff, just south of Tweed Heads on the NSW north coast.

“I was with Tommy about a week before he passed away, so I’m getting myself checked out now.

“I get little dizzy spells here and there and I had one the other day and that prompted the brain scans.

“I’ve got the scan results and they weren’t too bad. My brain matter had increased a little, so I’ve just got to keep an eye on it.”

Graham ‘Wombat’ Eadie (pictured) stands alongside Brett Stewart as Manly’s two finest fullbacks, but Tom Trbojevic is on track to surpass them both. Action photos.Source:News Corp Australia

Eadie, 67, had been in relatively good health since having open-heart surgery two years ago.

Now retired, he keeps busy catching up with friends and family and helping his wife with odd jobs around the home.

Eadie still finds time to watch rugby league, especially his beloved Manly, who he represented with distinction in 237 games from 1971 to 1983.

He was glued to the screen on Sunday while sitting on the lounge sipping a cup of tea as his Sea Eagles held on to defeat the New Zealand Warriors in a pointscoring spree.

Eadie couldn’t help but stand and cheer as Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic produced another scintillating solo display.

Trbojevic tormented the Warriors to finish with a SuperCoach nerd’s dream – two tries, four try assists, five line breaks, 11 tackle busts and 191 run metres.

Eadie believes ‘Turbo’ is on track to surpass Brett Stewart and himself to become the Sea Eagles‘ greatest fullback.

“Oh, I’ve got no doubts about that,” he said.

“Tom has got a hell of a lot of ability.

“His form has been phenomenal.

“He has got a great understanding with Daly Cherry-Evans, his brother Jake and that young winger Saab.”

Manly legend Graham Eadie declares Tom Trbojevic on track to be the Sea Eagles’ greatest No.1. Photo: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

Eadie couldn’t be more confident in Trbojevic, but he also knows the star No.1 needs to remain injury-free following a spate of setbacks.

He also battled hamstring problems as a young player starting out with the Sea Eagles in ’71, so he understands the importance of staying on top of injury.

“I don’t know what caused my hamstring issues, whether my back was out or whatever,” he said.

“It might have been that I was maybe too young and that could also be the case with Tom because his muscles are still developing.

“But with a bit of luck he might be over all his injuries and problems with his hamstrings, and he has just got the rest of his career ahead of him.”

Eadie can’t guarantee Trbojevic’s injury future, but he is certain the gun fullback won’t let his blistering form result in a big head.

“Tom seems to have a very level head on his shoulders,” he said.

“I think he has been brought up very well.

“I know with my parents; they were very well respected in the Woy Woy region and they always passed on to me to do the right thing.

“That is how they raised my brother and I and I can see similarities in the Trbojevic’s because Jake is the same.

“And there is still one to come isn’t there in young Ben? That is going to be interesting. Who is going to be the better one?

“That will create some good debate.”

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